Automatic shut off valve



Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to shut off valves such as are required by law on all equipment used for dispensing oils and greases through a measuring device and which are for the purpose of preventing the operation of said recording devices, when the contents of the containers from which the oils or greases are being dispensed, is exhausted.

This invention further relates to shut off valves for any liquid and is not limited to oils and greases for which it is primarily intended.

This invention further relates to shut off valves used in connection with suction pumps as well as with air tight containers from which the liquid is forced by air pressure.

This invention further relates to shut ofi valves that allow practically all of the contents of the containers to be dispensed before they close.

This invention further relates to shut off valves that are compact and whose working parts are enclosed, thus protecting them from outside injury.

This invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter described and finally claimed.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the. accompanying drawing the form thereof which is at present preferred by me since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part thereof, and in which:

The drawing shows my invention attached to an outlet pipe, mounted in a tank. The view being in central section.

Referring now to the drawing, I represents my automatic shut oif valve which is mounted on the lower end of the outlet pipe 2 to which is attached the flange 3, which flange is used to close the opening 4 in the tank 5. 6 represents any conventional check valve installed in the tank 5 for the purpose of introducing air pressure into said tank 5. I represents a circular valve head attached in any suitable manner to the pipe 2. 8 represents openings in the valve head I which are disposed to be closed by the cylindrical floats 9. I0 represents guide through which the floats 9 may travel up or down without friction. II represents a stop to limit the upward travel of the floats 9. I2 represents a cylindrical casing attached to the valve head I. I3 represents a dome shaped member securely fastened to the pipe 2 togwhich is attached the small cylin- 5 drical chamber I4 having a top opening I5. I5 represents a spherical member located within the chamber I4 and which normally closes the hole I'I provided in the dome shaped member I3.

The operation is as follows: 10

Assume that the tank 5 is full or nearly full of liquid and that the shut ofi valve I has been placed in position and the flange 3 fastened securely to the top of the tank 5 thus closing the opening 4. As the valve I is submerged in the 15 liquid any air that the valve contains will, due to the pressure exerted on it by the liquid, escape through the hole II by raising the spherical member I5 and pass out through the surrounding liquid to collect under the head of the tank. 20

As the air escapes from the valve I the liquid will pass from the tank 5 through the annular space between the members I2 and I3 and will completely fill up the interior of the valve casing. As the liquid rises in the cylindrical mem- 25 her I2 the floats 9 will rise off the openings 8 until arrested by the stop II. If air pressure is now introduced into the tank 5 through the check valve 5, the openings 8 being uncovered, the liquid will be forced out of the tank 5 into the shut off valve I, thence through the openings 8 and the pipe 2 to the outside of the tank 5 where it can be passed through any suitable recording device.

As the contents of the tank 5 are removed, the 35 level of the liquid in the tank 5 will drop below the level of the hole Il but the level of the liquid in the member I3 will not be elfected until the level of the liquid in the tank 5 drops below the bottom of the member I3 due to the spherical member I6 closing the hole I1 and preventing air from entering the member I3. When the level of the liquid in the tank 5 does drop below the bottom of the member I3, air will pass into the 45 annular space between the members I2 and I3 chasing the liquid ahead of it. As more air passes into the member I3, liquid will continue to be forced out of the openings 8 and the level of the liquid in the cylindrical member I2 will 50 drop.

When this level drops to a point where sufiicient buoyancy is no longer afiorded to the floats 9, these floats will ink until they close the openings 8 thus preventing any air from passing from 55 the tank 5 into the valve head 1, pipe 2 and any recording device that may be attached to pipe 2. This result is accomplished with a minimum of liquid left in the tank due to the proximity of the lower end of the domed shaped member I3 to the bottom of the tank 5.

From the above description it should be apparent to anyone familiar with the art that this shut ofi valve will operate equally well if a suction pump be mounted on the upper end of the pipe 2 and the check valve 6 used as an air vent.

While in the illustration I have shown two openings in the valve head I and two floating valves cooperating with them it is to be understood that I can use a greater number of both of them or even one of each and accomplish the same result.

I am aware that this invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended located within said casing, the lower end of said floating valve being disposed to close the opening in said valve head, guides to keep said floating valve substantially in vertical alignment with said opening, a stop to limit the upward travel of said floating valve, an outer casing fastened I to said outlet conduit, said outer casing being of greater dimension than said inner casing and. separated from it by a suitable space, the upper end of said outer casing being closed and the lower end being open and a check valve located in the upper end of said outer casing.

ALBERT E. HUTT. 

